Jane Stewart

[Aboriginal Affairs, April 23rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I take note of the support that the NDP has for the Nisga'a treaty. It understands that it will bring certainty to the lands in British Columbia. It understands that it will bring significant investment not only for the Nisga'a First Nation but for the communities around it. It understands that, through this very historic treaty, 100 years of history, not necessarily good history, can be reconciled.

Together we are welcoming the Nisga'a First Nation into Canada as true and full partners.

[Aboriginal Affairs, April 23rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, building accountable and sustainable first nations communities is a priority for the government as it is for first nations themselves.

Of particular note is a two day symposium that will be held next week in Saskatchewan hosted by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations precisely on this topic. There will be officials from the federal and provincial governments there, as well as chiefs and members from first nations communities across the country.

Most interesting is the fact that the auditor general has been invited and I believe he plans to attend. It is this kind of partnership that will allow us to continuously improve accountability in first nations and ensure they have sustainability into the future.

[Indian Affairs And Northern Development, April 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I read the auditor general's report with interest.

The hon. member gives me the opportunity to reconfirm to this House my commitment to have an effective allegations management system in my department. In fact, that is why about a year ago I issued national guidelines on allegations management. In every region across this country we have allegations co-ordinators who are trained to deal with the variety of allegations that we would receive from first nations—

[Aboriginal Affairs, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I will not comment particularly on this case but I do want to say that the chiefs and council of every first nation have to be accountable to those men and women who elect them.

It is part of the democratic process and I would ask the hon. member to understand this.

[Aboriginal Affairs, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the accusations made against the chief of Scowlitz. In fact it is before the courts and at this point it is inappropriate to comment further on the issue.

[Aboriginal Affairs, April 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should take the time to read the Nisga'a treaty. He will find that what he is purporting is absolutely not true at all.

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this side of the House knows precisely what writing modern treaties in British Columbia is all about. It is about bringing certainty to that province. It is clarifying who has what jurisdiction and who has what authority. It is about making investments in a province so its economy can very much appreciate and benefit from the settling of these land claims.

This government knows precisely what it is doing. It is that side of the House that has no idea how to reconcile aboriginal rights in a modern Canada. All that side would suggest is to bring chaos.

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are working diligently to prepare legislation to bring to this House to debate the very important and historic Nisga'a treaty. We are working on all aspects. We will have good legislation that truly reflects the treaty. I am looking forward to good and fulsome debate in this House.

I would only ask the members opposite to consider what their side of this story is and to realize that they will not bring certainty or investment to British Columbia. Their point of view will only bring chaos.

[Aboriginal Affairs, March 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on several occasions this government has made it absolutely clear that we are committed to writing modern treaties in British Columbia.

The Nisga'a agreement is the first in British Columbia and we are strongly supportive of it. We are working now with our partners in the province and with the Nisga'a to write the complex legislation that must be prepared and brought to this House and we will do so when we are ready.

[Income Tax Amendments Act, 1998, March 18th, 1999]

moved that Bill C-72, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, to implement measures that are consequential on changes to the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention (1980) and to amend the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act, the Old Age Security Act, the War Veterans Allowance Act and certain acts related to the Income Tax Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.